Driver dies after slamming into 18-wheeler's trailer on Southwest Freeway

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- One person died after slamming into the back of an 18-wheeler Friday morning on the Southwest Freeway.

Houston police told ABC13 at the scene that they received a call around 5 a.m. for a crash involving an 18-wheeler.

Authorities say the 18-wheeler was going about 45 mph in the southbound lanes when a person speeding and driving erratically in a Nissan hit the rear of the semi's trailer and burst into flames.

The Nissan driver died. The person's identity has not been released.

Officials did not say whether the 18-wheeler driver suffered any injuries.

The crash blocked the mainlanes at W. Bellfort for hours, but the freeway has since reopened.

Sadly, this was not the only deadly crash on the Southwest Freeway.

At about 2:30 a.m. on the freeway inbound at Spur 527, witnesses at the scene said that the driver of a white pickup truck was heading the wrong way and collided with a sedan.

A man, who was driving the truck, and his passenger, a woman, were both taken to the hospital, where she later died.

The driver of the car was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.

Investigators are looking into if the truck's driver was impaired.